SNC-Lavalin realigns rail and transit business


SNC-Lavalin realigned its business processes, brands and market strategy to offer a larger portfolio of rail and transit expertise and provide an end-to-end client service offering.

Wisconsin legislators take aim at rail safety at state, federal level

Two freight train derailments during the weekend of November 7 and 8 in Alma and Watertown, Wis., have elected officials calling for advanced rail safety efforts at the state and federal level.

Siskiyou rail project restores service after seven-year hiatus

Major repairs to restore the Siskiyou Rail Line in southern Oregon have been completed and stakeholders held a ceremony, Nov. 10, marking the return of freight service, which was halted along 95 miles between Ashland and Weed, Ore., in 2007.

FRA releases DEIS for NEC investment

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) released a Tier 1 Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for NEC FUTURE, FRA’s long-term investment framework for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Washington, D.C., and Boston, Mass.

Anacostia names CSS; NY&A senior management promotions

Anacostia Rail Holdings, Inc., promoted Michael Shore to vice president-operations of the Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad (CSS) and James Bonner to vice president of the New York & Atlantic Railway (NY&A).

Hammer named NJDOT commissioner

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie tapped New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) veteran Richard Hammer as the agency’s acting commissioner and will formally nominate him to succeed Jamie Fox.

KCS to invest $6.5 million in Louisiana rail and bridge projects

Kansas City Southern (KCS) will invest approximately $6.5 million in 2015 on rail and bridge improvement projects on its Vicksburg Subdivision in Louisiana, helping to grow capacity, as well as maintain and enhance safety on its cross-border network.

Unimin Energy Solutions opens terminal in W.Va.

Unimin Energy Solutions opened its second unit train capable terminal located in Benwood, W.Va. October 27.

Sioux Falls closes on downtown rail yard purchase

The city of Sioux Falls, N.D., and BNSF closed on the city’s purchase of the downtown rail yard.

UP opens new railport in Texas

Union Pacific‘s new Kinney County Railport in Kinney County, Texas, opened Nov. 3.

Kentucky to make $3 million in shortline improvements

More than $3 million has been granted for needed improvements to shortline railroads in Kentucky. The projects include public safety improvements to at-grade railroad crossings, railroad bridge overpasses and upgrades of railroad crossing warning signals, lights, signs and barriers.

Rep. Jordan tours Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co. project

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH-04) joined National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) member Fritz-Rumer Cooke Co., Inc., for a tour of its track project at Heritage Cooperative on October 30.

Norfolk Southern rescinds cessation of PIH notice

Norfolk Southern will accept and transport Poisonous-Inhalation-Hazard (PIH) commodities in December after withdrawing a notice that PIH shipments would cease December 1 and passenger operations would not be allowed after December 31.

President Obama signs H.R. 3819; PTC extension now official

President Barack Obama signed H.R. 3819 the “Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015” on Oct. 29.

Add another $60M in rail related projects that will benefit from TIGER awards

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) released official information surrounding the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) 2015 program, which will provide $500 million for 39 transportation projects in 34 states.

Norfolk Southern, New York state begin Portageville bridge

Norfolk Southern, the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation broke ground on a $70-million steel arch railroad bridge in Letchworth State Park.

Port Canaveral pauses rail extension project to explore alternatives

Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) commissioners have asked the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for a temporary pause in the review process of the Port Canaveral Rail Extension Project while the port team works with the Gilbane-Renaurt-Larkin-MARS Group to study a rail route through the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Pacific Imperial Railroad ownernship transferred; new CEO appointed

Conatus Capital Group, Inc., has acquired the majority controlling interest in Pacific Imperial Railroad (PIR); Arturo Alemany, principal of Conatus, has been confirmed as chief executive officer and president of PIR.

Senate committee approves Feinberg as FRA administrator

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation approved Sarah Feinberg to be administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration by a 19-1 vote.

Congress passes three-year PTC deadline extension

A blanket three-year extension to the Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation deadline has passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The legislation also gives railroads the option to seek a waiver granting an additional two years to install PTC.

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